Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Episode: Day 336: The Sorrowful Mysteries
Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (Ascension)

Overview

This episode marks a significant milestone in the "Rosary in a Year" journey—Day 336—as Fr. Mark-Mary guides listeners through the Sorrowful Mysteries. With only a month left in the year-long program, this episode inaugurates “Phase 6,” the final phase, which re-integrates short meditative prompts for each Mystery. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages the community to deepen their contemplative prayer life, meditate on the suffering of Christ, and enter more fully into union with Jesus and Mary. The episode’s tone is gentle, pastoral, and deeply reverent, inviting listeners not just to say the Rosary, but to enter into its mysteries with their hearts.

Key Discussion Points and Prayers

Announcing Phase 6 and Adjustments (00:59–02:51)

• Reflections on the Journey: Fr. Mark-Mary expresses gratitude and shares how moved he has been hearing from listeners who pray with him daily, either in the morning or at night.
• New Phase 6 Format:
  • Short Meditations Return: “We're going to add just a kind of little sentence or two with each of the Mysteries to help encourage and offer a direction for our meditation.” (01:32)
  • Aligning Mysteries to Weekdays: From now on, the day’s mysteries will match the traditional days of the week (e.g., Sorrowful on Tuesdays and Fridays).
  • Full Rosary Structure: Moving to pray the entire Rosary with both opening and closing prayers.

Opening Prayers (02:51–05:04)

• Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, and Hail Marys are recited for faith, hope, and charity.
• Intention: For the Holy Father's health and intentions.

The Sorrowful Mysteries Meditation and Prayer

1. The Agony in the Garden (05:04–09:02)

• Meditation Prompt: Reflect on Jesus’ perseverance in prayer during distress.
  Quote: "Even in this moment of stress and of great sorrow, He stays in dialogue with the Father, beginning his prayer again and again and again." (05:19)
• Intention: Ask for grace to remain in dialogue with God even in our agony.
  Memorable Phrase (as Jesus prayed): "My Father. My Father. My Father." (05:26)
• Decade Prayed.

2. The Scourging at the Pillar (09:02–13:11)

• Meditation Prompt: Inspired by St. Faustina’s mystical vision—be present with Jesus in His pain.
• Quote: "Let us be the one who receives the gift, who remained with Him with love as He is scourged for our sins." (09:48)
• Intention: Offer heartfelt gratitude for Christ’s suffering and love.
• Decade Prayed.

3. The Crowning with Thorns (13:11–17:44)

• Meditation Prompt: Reference to Titian’s painting—a reflection on rendering unto God.
• Quote: "Are we rendering to God what is God's, and to Caesar what is Caesar's?" (13:48)
• Challenge: Instead of crowning Christ with thorns of sin, crown Him with love, affection, and obedience.
• Decade Prayed.

4. The Carrying of the Cross (17:44–22:26)

• Meditation Prompt: Consider Simon of Cyrene, compelled to carry the cross.
• Quote: "Was he going to just do it, constantly, exclusively, with resentment…or would he receive it with a certain openness, a certain surrender…?" (18:00)
• Intention: Ask for openness so our own crosses draw us into deeper intimacy with Jesus.
• Decade Prayed.

5. The Crucifixion (22:26–27:18)

• Meditation Prompt: Contemplate Christ’s cry from the Cross ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?") and unite all human suffering to His.
• Quote (on Christ’s cry): "He takes all of our anguish, all of our suffering, all of our experience of a silence from God upon himself. And he makes this cry to the Father, but also with the absolute and certain confidence that he is heard by God." (23:16)
• Encouragement: “Whatever struggles or suffering you may be facing right now, let's find consolation and hope in Christ's cry to the Father.” (23:59)
• Decade Prayed.

Closing Prayers (27:18–28:47)

• Customary prayers: Hail, Holy Queen; Prayer for the promises of Christ.
• Final blessing: “All right. Thanks, everyone, for joining me and praying with me today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow.” (28:43)
• Farewell in Fr. Mark-Mary’s characteristic style: “Poco a poco, friends. God bless you all.” (28:47)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Even in this moment of stress and of great sorrow, He stays in dialogue with the Father, beginning his prayer again and again and again." (05:19, Fr. Mark-Mary)
• "Let us be the one who receives the gift, who remained with Him with love as He is scourged for our sins." (09:48, Fr. Mark-Mary)
• "Are we rendering to God what is God's, and to Caesar what is Caesar's?" (13:48, Fr. Mark-Mary, on Titian’s painting)
• "Was he going to just do it, constantly, exclusively, with resentment…or would he receive it with a certain openness, a certain surrender…?" (18:00, Fr. Mark-Mary on Simon of Cyrene)
• "He takes all of our anguish, all of our suffering, all of our experience of a silence from God upon himself... but also with the absolute and certain confidence that he is heard by God." (23:16, Fr. Mark-Mary on Christ at the Cross)
• "Whatever struggles or suffering you may be facing right now, let's find consolation and hope in Christ's cry to the Father." (23:59, Fr. Mark-Mary)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |----------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:59 | Phase 6: Overview & New Format | | 02:51 | Opening Prayers | | 05:04 | 1st Mystery: Agony in the Garden | | 09:02 | 2nd Mystery: Scourging at the Pillar | | 13:11 | 3rd Mystery: Crowning with Thorns | | 17:44 | 4th Mystery: Carrying the Cross | | 22:26 | 5th Mystery: Crucifixion | | 27:18 | Closing Prayers and Blessing | | 28:47 | Farewell: “Poco a poco, friends. God bless” |

Summary

This episode offers not just a recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries, but a meditative and experiential entry into Christ’s suffering, with brief, poignant reflections guiding the prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary’s pastoral tone and use of sacred art, saintly visions, and scriptural references deepen the listener’s encounter with the mysteries. Listeners are encouraged to:

• Stay in loving dialogue with the Father, even in distress
• Enter Christ’s suffering with gratitude and presence
• Examine what we offer to God versus the world
• Receive our crosses with openness and surrender
• Find consolation in Christ’s solidarity with all human suffering

The episode is both a spiritual exercise and a rich source of comfort, hope, and encouragement for anyone seeking a deeper prayer life as the Rosary in a Year nears its completion.